Drastic drop in crime rate

By Ranil WIJAYAPALA

DIG Asoka Wijetilleka

Concerted efforts by the Police to control narcotics, illicit liquor
and the crime rate, the Western Province has seen a remarkable progress
as they could bring the illicit brewing almost ninety per cent down
within the Western Province whilst crime solving rate also has seen a
remarkable progress.

Senior DIG Western Province, Traffic Management Road Safety and
Police Field Force Headquarters, Asoka Wijetilleka explaining the
progress of their raids said the intelligence based operations carried
out throughout the years has positive results to bring down illicit
brewing in the Province.

“We are still continuing with this operation and we are not
complacent. We wanted to make a complete stop to this ”, he added.

“In respect of vice detection and narcotics a concerted effort is
being made to apprehend and detect all those who are involved.

We have streamlined the operational systems and enhanced the strength
in each Police station in the Western province to conduct successful
raids. We are working on intelligence based operations now unlike in the
past”, he added.

The Senior DIG said they have deployed the plain clothesmen in
various parts in the Police areas in the Western province where vice and
narcotic activities supposed to be high.

“On the basis of intelligence raids are conducted and we have been
successful in many instances. IGP has specially initiated an action plan
to eradicate vice and narcotic menace in this country.

As far as vice detections are concerned especially the manufacture of
goda, illicitly brewed kasippu, Police have been concentrating areas
like Negombo, Kochchikade, Kotadeniyawa, Jaela, Kadawatha, Kandana and
Nittambuwa in the Western Province North range, Welikada, Maharagama,
Padukka, Thalangama, Piliyandala, Moratuwa, Angulana and Mount Lavinia
in the Western Province South range and in Beruwala, Aluthgama Kalutara,
Mathugama, Meegahatenna and Bulathisinhala in the extreme south of the
Western Province southern range.

“We have been very successful in detecting of large quantities. We
are continuously conducting raids and as a result illicit brewing has
come to almost ninety per cent down in the manufaturing trade and also
in the distribution”, the senior DIG added.

“We are doing this in the best interest of the public and the large
interest of the society so that they will not get to consuming
hazardously manufactured liquor of this nature”, he added.During the
last two months alone the Police in the Western province has conducted
41 raids to detect large illicit brewing spots. Apart from this similar
drive has been launched under the guidance of the Inspector General of
Police control narcotics in the Western province.

“We have formed special teams on intelligence led operation to detect
and apprehend those who involved in bringing narcotic drugs to Sri
Lanka, those who involved in the transportation, those who are involved
in the distribution and finally those who are consuming them at street
levels”, he added.

Within last two months 37 successful raids have been conducted to
detect large-scale and small-scale heroin detection raids.

“We have been very very successful in the operations and apprehended
very many suspects who have been really involved in transportation and
key suspects who have involved in trafficking.

They have been produced in Courts and remanded”, he added.

In the sphere of the crime prevention police have been able to solve
many cases and apprehended many suspects. Four suspects arrested from
Moragahahena Police area last month have enable to solve 13 cases of
house breaking and robberies.

“Likewise we have been successful in solving many other cases. The
arrest of one person in Anguruwathota, on December 21 has also led to
solving nine similar house breaking incidents”, he added.

The abduction and ransom cases which had become a controversial issue
at present has also been solved with the arrest of such groups within
the Western province.

“On December 12, we arrested five persons who are from Kegalle,
Mabole, Kotiyakumbura and Godakawela and were able to successfully
solved four cases where people have been abducted for ransom. We have
been successful in securing sufficient evidence to prosecute them,” he
added.

On December 19 also Police arrested two suspects and busted a similar
operation conducted them to threatening to abduct them asking for
ransom. “These arrested two groups consisted of all civilian people”, he
added.

“We conduct separate crime prevention operations now in the Western
province with the full participation of senior officers so that the
operation itself is well coordinated and well supervised to produce
positive results.

These operations have been a success as we have arrested and solve
many cases”, he added. Apart from this Police vigilance in the streets
in the nights have also helped preventing major incidents.

“Likewise, we have brought down the crime rate comparatively last
year and also our crime solving rates during past three months are very
very high,” he added.

The Senior DIG said that the public support is very important in all
spheres of crime prevention, detection of vice and detection of
narcotics and added that to crime prevention there are certain
additional requirements that has to be followed indirect manner by the
public.

“They should not leave things for granted , not leave house doors,
windows open unnecessarily exposing yourself and targeting yourself”, he
added. He said that there are few instance people have gone on shopping
after their vehicles parked without locking them while keeping things
inside.

“So chances must be prevented by conscious type of public activities.
That is also very important. The Police are there to support the public
and the public also in turn be mindful of their action and take care of
their own things. Protect their own things without allowing anyone to
come and commit a crime.

That is very essential because if one thing happens due to your
negligence you can’t point an accusing finger at the Police”, he added.